hi ive been HIV for about 10 yrs but didnt know I was till 2000. I had a seizure and i was told i had toxo.will that ever go away or is it like HIV itll stay with me till the end. I do take sulfadiazine and daraprim

Response from Dr. Frascino

Hi,

Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, which is commonly found in undercooked meat, cat feces, raw vegetables and soil. Up to half of the U.S. population is infected with toxo; however, a normal, healthy immune system will keep toxo in check and prevent it from causing disease. When the immune system becomes deficient due to HIV or any other cause, toxo can become active and cause a variety of conditions, including brain inflammation (encephalitis), which can in turn lead to seizures. Toxo does not go away and you will need to continue taking your sulfadiazine and Daraprim. Secondary prophylaxis (treatment after having toxoplasmosis disease, like yours) is lifelong. I'll reprint some basic information below from the archives that discusses toxoplasmosis.

Good luck.

Dr. Bob

Toxoplasmosis July 23, 2007

What Is Toxoplasmosis?

Toxoplasmosis (toxo) is an infection caused by the single-celled parasite toxoplasma gondii. A parasite lives inside another living organism (the host) and takes all of its nutrients from the host.

The toxo parasite is very common in cat feces, raw vegetables, and the soil. It is also common in raw meat, especially pork, lamb, or deer meat. It can get into your body when you breathe in dust. Up to 50% of the population is infected with toxo. A healthy immune system will keep toxo from causing any disease. It does not seem to spread from person to person.

The most common illness caused by toxo is an infection of the brain (encephalitis). Toxo can also infect other parts of the body. Toxo can lead to coma and death. The risk of toxo is highest when your CD4 cell (T-cell) counts are below 100.

The first signs of toxo include fever, confusion, headache, disorientation, personality changes, tremor, and seizures. Toxo is usually diagnosed by testing for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. Pregnant women who are exposed to toxo may pass it to their newborn child.

The toxo antibody test shows whether you have been exposed to toxo. A positive test does not mean that you have toxo encephalitis. However, a negative antibody test means that you are not infected with toxo.

Brain scans by computerized tomography (CT scan) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scan) are also used to diagnose toxo. A CT scan for toxo can look very similar to scans for other opportunistic infections. An MRI scan is more sensitive and can make it easier to diagnose toxo.

How Is Toxo Treated?

Toxo is treated with a combination of pyrimethamine (Daraprim®) and sulfadiazine. Both drugs can cross the blood-brain barrier.

The toxoplasma gondii parasites needs vitamin B to live. Pyrimethamine stops toxo from getting vitamin B. Sulfadiazine prevents toxo from using it. The normal dosage of these drugs is 50 to 75 mg of pyrimethamine with 2 to 4 grams per day of sulfadiazine.

These drugs both interfere with vitamin B and can cause anemia. People with toxo usually take leucovorin, a form of folic acid (a B vitamin), to prevent anemia.

This combination of drugs is very effective against toxo. Over 80% of people show improvement within 2 to 3 weeks.

Toxo usually comes back after the first episode. People who have had toxo should keep taking the anti-toxo drugs at a lower, maintenance dose.

How Do I Choose a Treatment for Toxo?

If you are diagnosed with toxo, your health care provider will probably prescribe pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine. This combination can cause a drop in white blood cells, and kidney problems.

Also, sulfadiazine is a sulfa drug. Almost half the people who take it have an allergic reaction. This usually is a skin rash, and sometimes a fever.

Allergic reactions can be overcome using a desensitization procedure. Patients start with a very small amount of the drug. They get increasing amounts until they can tolerate the full dose.

People who cannot tolerate sulfa drugs can use clindamycin (Cleocin®) instead of sulfadiazine in the combination.

Can Toxo Be Prevented?

The best way to prevent toxo is to take strong antiretroviral medications (ARVs). You can be tested to see if you have been exposed to toxo. If not, you can reduce your risk of infection by not eating undercooked meat or fish, and by wearing gloves and a face mask and washing thoroughly if you clean a cat box.

If you have less than 100 CD4 cells, you should take medication to prevent toxo. People with less than 200 CD4 cells usually take Bactrim or Septra (see Fact Sheet 535) to prevent pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). These drugs also protect you against toxo. See Fact Sheet 515 for more information on PCP. If you can't tolerate Bactrim, your health care provider can use other drugs.

The Bottom Line

Toxoplasmosis is a serious opportunistic infection. If you have not been exposed, you can reduce your risk of exposure by not eating undercooked meat or fish, and taking extra precautions if you clean a cat box.

This forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not rendering medical, mental health, legal or other professional advice or services. If you have or suspect you may have a medical, mental health, legal or other problem that requires advice, consult your own caregiver, attorney or other qualified professional.

Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither TheBody.com nor any advertiser is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.

The Body is a service of Remedy Health Media, LLC, 750 3rd Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Remedy Health Media, LLC, and its subsidiaries, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.